Banff travel guide
Banff Tourism | Banff Guide
You're Going to Love Banff
With a population of 7,502, Banff is a must-see destination in Alberta, Canada. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Banff has to offer.
What to do in Banff
Top activities & attractions in Banff
Where to Eat in Banff
If you’re looking for affordable options, Hello Sunshine Japanese Restaurant (208 Wolf Street B) and Three Bears Brewery (205 Bear St) are great picks.
When to visit Banff
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Banff in July, when the average temperature is 15 °C, and the highest can go up to 22 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is December, when it can get as cold as -13 °C, with an average temperature of -9 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 68 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Banff, with an average rainfall of 17 mm.
How to Get to Banff
Plane
Although Banff doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Calgary Airport (YYC), which is located 108 km from Banff. Calgary Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from WestJet, Air Canada, Air France and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest domestic flight to Banff departs from Abbotsford and takes around 1h 15m.
Car
Another option to get to Banff is to pick up a car rental from Calgary, which is about 106 km from Banff. You’ll find branches of Turo and Avis, among others, in Calgary.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Banff, including Cold Shot, Red Arrow and Ebus. The most popular bus station is Banff Banff, Ab, located 0.8 km from downtown Banff. Banff Red-Carpet Inn is also a commonly used station, and is 0.7 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Banff
Where to stay in Banff
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hi Banff Alpine Centre and Homestead Inn Banff.
Where to stay in popular areas of Banff
Most booked hotels in Banff
Renting a car in Banff
Renting a car in Banff costs C$ 96 per day, on average, or C$ 288 if you want to rent it for 3 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 8% more expensive than at Calgary.
Expect to pay C$ 1.71 per litre in Banff (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 20.44 and C$ 27.25. The most frequently booked car type in Banff is Compact (Toyota Corolla or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Class Economy Car or similar) are, on average, 54% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Banff
Supplier choice
5 adults, 5 Bags
C$ 53/day
Full-size
5 adults, 2 Bags
C$ 59/day